Banbury Historical Society Lecture
Stuart Bell will deliver a history talk on changing attitudes towards mental illness and its treatments for the Banbury Historical Society.
The lecture is scheduled for Thursday, November 12, beginning at 7.30pm in the Education Studio at Banbury Museum.
Seven Centuries of Bedlam
Entitled ‘Bedlam’, the talk covers seven and three quarter centuries of history regarding The Priory of St Mary of Bethlehem, established in 1247 as the oldest psychiatric hospital in the world.
The institution, now known as the Bethlem Royal Hospital, treated many noteworthy patients and inspired artists ranging from Hogarth to Stravinsky over the centuries.
Asylums and Lunacy Reform
The lecture examines some of the worst excesses of asylums during the era of lunacy reform, reflecting broader historical attitudes toward mental health care.
The hospital’s history also inspired several horror books, films, and television series, most notably the 1946 film Bedlam starring Boris Karloff.
Stuart Bell and Research Background
Stuart Bell CBE FRCPsych (Hon) served as Chief Executive of Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust from 2012 to 2020, and previously led the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust for thirteen years.
He read Modern History at the University of Oxford and serves as Honorary Treasurer of the Northamptonshire Record Society.
Event Details and Venue
The hospital today operates as part of the South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and maintains close ties with King’s College London and the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience as a major research center.
Tickets for non-members cost £5, with venue access available via Spiceball Park Road and the canal towpath.
Questions about the Banbury Historical Society lecture
Where is the Banbury Historical Society lecture taking place?
The talk takes place in the Education Studio at Banbury Museum, with access via Spiceball Park Road and the canal towpath.
How much does it cost for non-members to attend?
Non-members are welcome to attend the lecture for a fee of £5.
What is Stuart Bell’s professional background?
Stuart Bell read Modern History at the University of Oxford and previously served as Chief Executive of both South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust and Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust.
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